Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety gave Kentucky a “green light” and recognized Kentucky as a top-performing state. Kentucky is one of only 16 green light states and one of only four “Best Performance States” in the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety's fourth annual highway safety report. The ranking is based on the passage of at least two additional highway safety laws in 2006.
In Kentucky, 2006 was a landmark year in terms of highway safety legislation. In addition to the passage of a primary seatbelt law, the centerpiece of the Highway Safety Legislative package, the 2006 Kentucky legislative session yielded House Bill 90, which expanded Kentucky’s Graduated Driver’s License Program. Kentucky has had one of the highest teen crash rates in the nation, and HB90 created an intermediate period of six months between a learner’s permit and a full, unrestricted license.
Another measure which became law in 2006 was House Bill 272, Kentucky’s “Quick Clearance” law. It addresses the problems of motorist safety as well as clogged interstates and parkways following traffic accidents. The law also codifies incident management procedures for “Quick Clearance.”
The “green” rating is the highest of three Advocates’ ratings based on a state’s adoption of optimal safety laws. A “yellow” Advocates rating signals the need for improvement in a particular state. A “red" rating is assigned when a state falls seriously behind in safety-related legislation.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, based in Washington, D.C., is a coalition of insurance, consumer, health, safety and law enforcement organizations that work together to advance state and national highway and safety policies. The complete “2007 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws” report can be found at: www.saferoads.org.